Multi-purpose garment



Aug 4, 1970 N. H. PALMER 3,522,612

MULTI-PURPOSE GARMENT Filed May 10. 1968 /En Y 1./

3,522,612 MULTI-PURPOSE GARMENT Nathan H. Palmer, 619 Glendale, Glenview, Ill. 60025 Filed May 10, 1968, Ser. No. 728,120 Int. Cl. A41d 3/08 U.S. Cl. 2-88 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A multi-purpose garment made of, in combination, a flat member and a pouch member. The flat member is made of a fibrous layer and a water-impermeable layer bound together to form a flat sheet with a slitted opening near the center of the flat sheet at a size suitable for the passage of a human head. The pouch member is also constructed from a sheet made of a fibrous layer and a water-impermeable layer bound together, and in the shape of a rectangular container with two adjacent edges sealed and two remaining adjacent edges selectively open. There are means on the pouch for closing the two open edges when the flat member has been folded and inserted into the pouch. Attachment means on both the flat and the pouch members cooperating to hold the pouch to the flat member so that the garment may be used as a hooded cape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, an increasing number of people are spending much of their time engaging in outdoor activities. Thus, more and more people are spending their weekends and vacation time engaged in outdoor sports and recreation. As a consequence, there has been a demand for a multi-purpose garment which is easy to make, inexpensive, durable, moisture retardant, and otherwise fulfills a number`of outdoor needs.

The present invention provides a multi-purpose garment which is primarily useful as a hooded cape for protection against cold weather and the elements such as rain or snow. The garment of the invention is also useful as a seat cushion, blanket or bedding, a mat or covering for such areas as the rear of a station wagon or ground area selected for a picnic, or as a waterproof oor mat inside a camping tent, etc.

Various types of capes, ponchos and other rain protective garments which may or may not be convertible to cushions or blankets are known in the art. These prior art garments include those disclosed in U.S. Pats. 1,839,003, 1,901,223, 2,408,662, 2,462,269, 2,513,074, 2,870,464 and 2,971,198. However these prior art garments all suffer one or more of the following disadvantages: they do not provide a simple construction so that a versatile garment can be inexpensively made; they do not provide a detachable hood which can be quickly and easily attached to the garment and which serves as a container for the ganment when not worn; they do not provide a cape-like semi-bulky garment which is substantially fiat so that it can be used for a multitude of purposes; etc. In this connection the present invention provides a multi-purpose garment, which is primarily intended for use as a hooded cape and which is very simple in its construction, inexpensive to make, handsome in appearance when worn, easy to carry and handle, having a minimum of easily concealable attachment protrusions, and uniquely fulfilling its primary purpose of protecting the wearer from all sorts of inclement weather.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a novel multi-purpose garment which is primarily useful as a hooded cape for protection against inclement weather.

United States Patent Office 3,522,612 Patented Aug. 4, 1970 It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel multi-purpose garment which is simple in construction and inexpensive to make.

Still further objects of the invention can be gathered from a reading of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As indicated above, the present invention provides a multipurpose garment which is primarily intended for use as a hooded-cape to protect the wearer from cold weather, rain, snow and other weather elements. The garment is made from a sheeting material composed of two layers: a water-impermeable layer and a fibrous layer. The water-impermeable layer may be a sheet of plastic, a sheet of waterproofed cloth, etc. The purpose of this water-impermeable layer is to protect the user from Wet weather and rwet grounds as well as winds. In general, -I prefer to use a soft and tough plastic sheet as the waterimpermeable layer. It is highly desirable that this layer be wrinkle resistant so that folds developed while the garment is enclosed in the pouch do not destroy the esthetic appearance of the garment when Worn. Such a plastic sheet is known to those skilled in the art and includes, for example, polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene sheetings. The Water-impermeable layer may be transparent, translucent or opaque. If it is opaque, then full advantage of colorful designs on the inner fibrous layer may be had. Naturally, processes exist which permit design lettering, stenciling or design coloring the outer water-impermeable layer itself.

The fibrous layer is provided for the purpose of warmth and bulk. A principal use intended for the garment of the present invention is as a cape for spectators at such outdoor sports as a football game. When attending such a game, the garment of the present invention may be used as a hooded-cape over the overcoat or outer coat normally worn outdoors during the winter months. The fibrous layer, thus provides further insulation for the user. Cotton, wool and synthetic blanket materials may be used as the fibrous layer.

The two layers, a blanket material and a water-impermeable material, may be united together by any suitable means, such as by stitching. Other methods for uniting the two layers together include gluing or cementing. Stitching is, however, the preferred method for uniting the two layers together. After the two layers have been stitched together they enclose an air spa-oe therebetween which greatly enhances the insulating properties of the gar-ment of the invention.

The garment of the invention is made of two members: a substantially flatened member and an envelope-hood member. The substantially at member is a blanket-like sheet made from the two-layered sheeting material described above. This flat member has a slitted opening near the center thereof for the passage of a human head. The size of the slitted opening should be such as to permit the passage of any human head but not much larger than necessary. At least a couple of attaching means, such as snap-on buttons or ordinary buttons, are provided on one side of the slitted opening. The envelope-hood member is essentially a pouch made from the .same two-layered sheeting material as that for the fiat member. The pouch is of a size suitable for use as a hood and as a container for the flat member when it is folded. There are two attaching means on the pouch corresponding to and cooperating with the attaching means on the flat blanket-like member to render the pouch suitable for use as a hood.

BRIEF `DESCRIPTION OF TI-llE DRAWING AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention will be further described with reference to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof.

FIG. l shows a top plan view of a flat blanket-like member of the garment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of an envelope-hood member, with one corner folded over, suitable for use with the flat blanket-like member of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the flat blanket-like member of FIG. l and the envelope-hood member of FIG. 2 attached together and being worn by a person;

FIG. 4 shows a partial section of the fiat blanket-like member of FIG. 1 along line 4 4; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the flat blanketlike member of FIG. 1 being folded and placed within the envelope-hood member of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, a flat blanket-like member of a multi-purpose garment of the present invention is generally shown at 10. Although fiat member is shown in FIG. 1 as having a generally rectangular configuration, such a configuration is not critical. Thus, the fiat member 10 may have a generally square, elliptical or circular shape. The fiat blanket-like member 10 is made of two layers, to be more fully described in connection with FIG. 4 below. These two layers are shown stitched together along the border of the fiat member as indicated by the dashed line 11. Flat member 10 has an elongated slitted opening 12 located near the center of fiat member 10. Although the slitted opening can be placed anywhere on the fiat member 10, it is preferred to place the opening slightly off-center thereon. `Such an off-center placement of the slitted opening will give the desired result of a cape with its back slightly longer than its front portion, as illustrated in FIG. 3. It will be appreciated that the slitted opening 12 is an extremely narrow opening so that when fiat member 10 is laid out fiat on the surface, the slit does not present a large hole. The peripheral edge of slitted opening 12 is also stitched together as shown by dashed line 13. On the side of slitted opening 12 which is intended to be the front portion of the cape, there are provided two snap-on means 14 for cooperating with the corresponding snap-on means on the envelope-hood member as shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, there is shown an envelope-hood member 15 which is suitable for use with the at blanket-like member of FIG. 1. Envelope-hood member 15 is shown as a generally rectangular and fiat pouch-like container although here again the configuration is not critical. Thus, for example, the envelope-hood member 15 may have an elliptical configuration. Envelope-hood member 15 has two sealed edges 16 and 17 and two open edges 18 and 19. The two open edges 18 and 19 are provided with a closure means such as a zipper 20 for completely closing the envelope-hood member when the fiat member 10 is folded and stored therein, as more fully shown in FIG. 5 below. The envelope-hood member 15 has attachment means, e.g., two snap-on means 21 which may be snapped onto snap-on means 14 for attachment thereto. Cooperating snap-on means 14 and 21 may be replaced by other securing means such as a button and a hole but a snap-on type of device is preferred because of its economy in construction and ease in use.

FIG. 3 shows the multi-purpose garment of the invention being worn by a person. It should be noted that the connection formed by the snap-on means 14 and 21 is slightly forward of slitted opening 12 so that the hood formed by member 15 will cover the top and neck portions of the person. It will also be noted that the hood 15 forms a lap-type of a seal with the shoulder portion of the cape member 10 to protect the neck and head of the wearer as well as to prevent the entry of wind, rain or snow into the cape by way of the rear of the slitted opening 12. This lap-type of seal is formed by virtue of the location of the snap-on means 21 on the hood member 15. Referring again to FIG. 2, it can be seen that snap-on means 21 is located at a relatively large distance away from the edge 18 so as to leave a substantial amount of material draped toward the rear of the person after the envelope-hood member 15 has been engaged onto the cape member 10.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the sheeting material from which the fiat cape member 10 is made. The fiat cape member 10 is shown to be made of two layers of material stitched together at 11: a top layer of a waterproof material 22; and a fibrous layer 23. I prefer to use a synthetic plastic sheeting as the waterproof layer 22 but other waterproof sheeting material may be used, such as oiled sailcloth or duck. Examples of synthetic plastic materials which can be used as the waterproof layer are the vinyl resins, such as polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene. I prefer to use a plastic sheet which is clear in color so that weave patterns on the fibrous layer will show through when the garment is worn with the waterproof layer on the outside. Such a transparency on the part of the plastic layer adds attractiveness to the garment and also permits the decoration of the garment fr various purposes, such as the placement of a school insignia between the two layers so that the wearer of the garment can be identified with a particular team in a sporting event. For the fibrous layer 23, any of the conventional clothes making materials may be used, such as cotton, wool, synthetic fibers such as polyesters, or mixtures of these. It can be seen from FIG. 4 that the two layers 22 and 23 define an air space therebetween. Since air is one of the best insulating materials known to man, this air space considerably enhances the insulating Value of the garment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the fiat blanket-like member 10` in a folded condition and inserted inside the envelope-hood member 15. The zipper closure means 20 is then zipped around the open edges 18 and 19 of the envelope-hood member to completely enclose the at member in the envelope. In this manner, a pillow or cushion type of object is obtained which is very useful in many outdoor activities.

Referring again to FIG. 3, it can be seen that another advantage for the construction of a garment of the invention resides in the fact that one size will comfortably fit any adult person. Moreover, the garment of the invention can be worn in extreme cold weather by draping over an outer coat `but on the other hand the garment can =be worn in milder climate by wearing it over a shirt or a blouse. Thus, the garment is extremely versatile and suited to the informal style of living prevalent today.

As can be seen from FIG. l, the fiat member of the garment of the invention is a flat, waterproofed sheet which can be used for a variety of out-door purposes. When traveling in an automobile, it can serve as a blanket or a waterproof fioor mat. Such a waterproof sheet material also has a number of apparent uses in camping and other sports activities, eg., when non-lumpy ground clothes are desired.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-purpose blanket-garment and envelope-hood comprising in combination-z a planar main member of generally rectangular configuration and a size suitable for use as an outer garment; said main member is formed of at least two layers of material, one lbeing a fibrous material and the other being a substantially waterproof material; an elongated slit formed in said main member generally centrally thereof, the length of the slit being such as to permit the head of a person to be projected therethrough while preventing the shoulders of the person to pass therethrough; said layers are united along their entire peripheral edges and along the entire border of said slit so as to substantially enclose an insulating air space between said layers;

a pair of lirst fastening means on the waterproof bers together for protection against weather elements. layer of said main member, said pair of fastening 2. A multi-purpose blanket-garment and envelope hood means are both located on one side of said slit with according to claim 1 wherein said fastening means on one fastening means located adjacent to each end of said main member and said fastening means on said hoodsaid slit; 5 member are cooperating snap on means.

a hood member made from a sheeting material which is composed of at least two layers, one layer being a References Cited 1' fibrous material and the other layer being a substan- UNITED STATES PATENTS tlally waterproof materlal; said hood member denl ing a generally rectangular chamber for storing said lo 148,515 3/1874 Silberstem et aL 2*84 main member in a folded condition when not in use; 1,901,223 3/1933 Buh 2 88 said hood member having two adjacent side edges 2,129,454 9/1938 Wllkle -7 2 84 secured together and having continuous separable 2,439,382 4/1948 De Grazla 284 fastening means on the remaining two adjacent side 2,462,269 2/1949 Krempel 2 '84 edges; said hood member having said waterproof 15 2,513,074 6/1950 Wqlfe 2 84 layer on its exterior surfaces; a pair of second fasten- 2,870,464 1/1959 Lahik 2 '84 X ing means on the brous layer of said hood member 2,971,198 2/1961 Tomlch 2 88 X and located adjacent to the corner formed by the two side edges having said continuous separable FQREIGN PATENTS fastening means thereat, said second fastening means 20 5,419 19u31 Australia. being complementary to and cooperate with said rst ALFRED R. GUEST, Primary Examiner fastening means; U.S. Cl. X.R.

whereby when said main member is used as a cape said' 2-84 hood member serves as a hood and said first and second fastening means cooperate to fasten the mem- 25 

